Canadian wage subsidy will be extended past June

May 8, 2020 | 9:10 AM

The federal government will be extending the wage subsidy program to help businesses keep workers on the payroll.

The original deadline was June 6, but Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says it will go longer than that, with more details next week.

Trudeau says the latest jobless rate at 13 per cent for April shows “Canadians are hurting” due to the pandemic.

“Everyone has their own story, but it all boils down to a very difficult time for a lot of people,” said a sombre Trudeau outside his home in Ottawa.

He said about 7 million Canadians are getting the $2,000 a month emergency response benefit, and applications have been made for up to 2 million workers to get the wage subsidy, which covers 75 per cent of an employee’s wages – up to $847 per week – for employers of all sizes and across all sectors who have suffered a drop in gross revenues of at least 15 per cent in March, and 30 per cent in April and May.

Concept Plan

City council endorses passive park plan for Kin Race Track lands

20h ago

Creek Naturalization

Vernon Creek Naturalization project completed

Apr 27, 2026

12 hectare blaze

Wildfire near Chase controlled

Apr 26, 2026

A half million businesses have applied for emergency loans through the Canada Emergency Business Account.

“Even though we’re reaching millions of Canadians, we need to reach even more,” said Trudeau. “Were working around the clock to update and adjust so that help gets to as many workers, small businesses, families and young people as possible.”

The PM also announced a new Industry Strategy Council that will look into how to best support the recovery of certain industries.

“This council will take a deeper dive into how the pandemic is affecting specific sectors and how to best support them. We’re leveraging expertise from the economic strategy tables we set up in the first mandate, as well as looking to new industry leaders.”

Trudeau also paid tribute to today’s 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, marking the end of World War II.

“After six years of war, it must have felt like that day would never come, but it did. And it came because of the courage of all who served, and because of the sacrifice of all who gave their lives,” stated Trudeau.

by Pete McIntyre

View Comments